Question: Compare and contrast a Sony Walkman with an Apple iPod, and describe the differences in their physical construction, interface design, technology and delivery of sound. Quick sketches are helpful for this analytical process.
Physical
The Sony Walkman is far more bulky in construction than the sleeker and thinner Ipod. There are many more buttons on the walkman as it appears as though any function or setting has its’ own designated button, unlike the Ipod where one click is able to serve many different functions. Apple has chosen to keep the physical design very simple as they haven't even placed the words "Apple" or "Ipod" anywhere on the front. They have left these to be on the back on the Ipod which gives the front a more clean look. This can be compared to how Google has kept its main pages simple and plain which is far more attractive than a cluttered and cofusing look.
Interface
“The user interface (also known as human computer interface or man-machine interface (MMI)) is the aggregate of means by which people the users interact with the system a particular machine, device, computer program or other complex tool. The user interface provides means of: · Input, allowing the users to manipulate a system · Output, allowing the system to indicate the effects of the users' manipulation.”
Above is how Wikipedia defined Interface.
With this in mind we can see that the Ipod has much more of an interface design concept in mind than the Walkman. While the Sony product is simple “press this button and this will happen”, the Ipod requires the user to know which screen they are on and what the “click wheel” will do on that specific screen. For example, if the user is on the song screen then scrolling the wheel can either increase the volume or fast forward the song depending on which interface it is currently set for. On the Walkman, the volume control will only change the volume, the play button will on play, the fast forward will only fast forward. Sound
The headphones for both products are very different. The Ipod uses an in-ear design for better delivery of sound while the ones used for the Walkman seem to just be placed on the ears. The quality in design of the two differ as well, the walkmans headset appear to be cheaper and clumsier. On a personal note, I remember using those headphones years ago with my walkman and the problem would always be adjusting their length (they could be pulled or collapsed to fit better on the head). This would always be time consuming and sometimes painful as your hair would constantly get stuck in the headphones.
Physical
The Sony Walkman is far more bulky in construction than the sleeker and thinner Ipod. There are many more buttons on the walkman as it appears as though any function or setting has its’ own designated button, unlike the Ipod where one click is able to serve many different functions. Apple has chosen to keep the physical design very simple as they haven't even placed the words "Apple" or "Ipod" anywhere on the front. They have left these to be on the back on the Ipod which gives the front a more clean look. This can be compared to how Google has kept its main pages simple and plain which is far more attractive than a cluttered and cofusing look.
Interface
“The user interface (also known as human computer interface or man-machine interface (MMI)) is the aggregate of means by which people the users interact with the system a particular machine, device, computer program or other complex tool. The user interface provides means of:
· Input, allowing the users to manipulate a system
· Output, allowing the system to indicate the effects of the users' manipulation.”
Above is how Wikipedia defined Interface.
With this in mind we can see that the Ipod has much more of an interface design concept in mind than the Walkman. While the Sony product is simple “press this button and this will happen”, the Ipod requires the user to know which screen they are on and what the “click wheel” will do on that specific screen. For example, if the user is on the song screen then scrolling the wheel can either increase the volume or fast forward the song depending on which interface it is currently set for. On the Walkman, the volume control will only change the volume, the play button will on play, the fast forward will only fast forward.
Sound
The headphones for both products are very different. The Ipod uses an in-ear design for better delivery of sound while the ones used for the Walkman seem to just be placed on the ears. The quality in design of the two differ as well, the walkmans headset appear to be cheaper and clumsier. On a personal note, I remember using those headphones years ago with my walkman and the problem would always be adjusting their length (they could be pulled or collapsed to fit better on the head). This would always be time consuming and sometimes painful as your hair would constantly get stuck in the headphones.